JPDCL claims 96% power restoration
*Fallen trees removed, many roads cleared
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: A member of marriage party was killed while two others injured when a tree got uprooted during windstorm and fell on a vehicle in Tikri area of Udhampur last night, a labourer died in Kathua, an under construction bridge collapsed in Nowshera while fallen trees from many roads were cleared jointly by PDD and Forest officials, whereas, power supply has been restored to about 96 % area of Jammu division.
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Official sources said three youth had gone to attend marriage function at Bansa Morh near Tikri. They were accompanying marriage party. It was raining heavily and strong winds were blowing. They stopped under a mango tree. Suddenly, the tree fell on their car and they sustained serious injuries.
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Locals of the area rushed them to Narayana Hospital, Katra where one of them died after some time. The deceased was identified as Abhishek Thakur (30), son of Angrej Singh, resident of Bagta in Teshil Katra of district Reasi.
The injured, identified as Shubham Thakur (28), son of Angrej Singh of Bhagta, Katra and Nitish Bazal (25), son of Sawarn Singh of Mehari in Katra were undergoing treatment at Narayana Hospital Katra.
Report from Ramnagar said that due to high velocity winds with, thunder- storm, the tin roof of the house of Bagmal, son of Amarnath at village Kidmu Panchayat- A was extensively damaged. The household goods of the family were damaged. In Ward 13 of the Ramnagar town, a tree fell on the house of Roshan Lal and all family members were inside the house. The family, however, had miraculous escape. The house was damaged in the incident.
Due to high velocity winds with by thunder- storm at village Seen Barmana in Udhampur late night, the tin roof of the house of Sohan Lal, built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana all the goods lying inside the house were damaged. In Ward No. 19 of Kathua, a non local labourer died as his hut collapsed during windstorm. He came under the debris of the wall and died on the spot. The tin huts of the labourers were also badly damaged in the locality. Three houses were burnt to ashes in Sandroon area of Bani during windstorm late last evening. Huge loss of property was reported.
Scores of houses with tin roofs were damaged in Udhampur, Reasi, Samba, Jammu and Kathua areas due to windstorm. The people suffered huge damage. In Akhnoor area about a dozen houses were damaged. The victims have demanded financial assistance from the Government.
In Siri block of Nowshera, a motorable under construction bridge was damaged due to strong windstorm last night. The PWD authorities have ordered inquiry into the matter. The bridge was being constructed to connect Siri and Shahrukh blocks of this border belt. This 132 mts long bridge was being constructed with the cost of Rs 5.92 crores. Senior officials visited the bridge site today.
A MeT spokesman said that due to Western Disturbances the windstorm, hailsstorm and heavy rain has occurred. It will further hit the region on Apr 18, 19 and 20. High reaches of the J&K region may experience light snowfall. Gusty winds with the speed of 50-70 kms per hour may hit the region.
Meanwhile, massive joint operation by the PDD/ JPDCL and Forest staff was launched to clear the roads and lanes and ensure power restoration. A senior PDD official said that by 11 am on Thursday the power supply to about 40% areas in the region was restored. He said by 2 pm, about 60 % areas was covered.
Official sources said that a strong windstorm that disrupted the power supply across various parts of the Jammu region, the Managing Director (MD), Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL), launched a vigorous restoration drive, ensuring around the clock works to bring back the shattered power scenario on track.
Soon after the storm subsided, the MD conducted a detailed assessment and directed the Chief Engineer and concerned Executive Engineers to initiate urgent restoration measures across all affected areas. The MD was apprised of major outages including the tripping of 220 KV Salal Circuit-1&2, 220 KV Jatwal Transmission line feeding Grid Station Gladni, 220 KV burn Kishanpur feeding grid station Burn, thereby affecting almost all 132KV/33KV Grid stations including 132kV Rajouri Grid, 132kV Canal Grid, 132kV Gladni Grid, Samba Ckt-2, Manwal Grid and a technical snag at the 220/132/33kV Grid Station in Ramban.
Instructions were issued to all field teams to conduct physical patrolling to check line snapping and initiate restoration wherever possible, without waiting for complete restoration of the 220/132kV systems.
Key milestones achieved during the night included re-energising of 132kV Canal Grid, 132kV Kalakote Grid and 132kV Karra Grid, along with all lines from Kathua Grid, restoration of 132 KV line from Udhampur, charging of one circuit of the Gladni Grid and restoration of nearly 90% of the transmission lines by around 12.30 pm. The power load for Jammu Province was recorded at 190 MW at 1 pm, 948 MW at around 6 pm and by around 7:00 pm it reached 1000 MW.
Yasin further claimed that by 6 pm on Thursday, power supply to nearly 96% areas of Jammu region was restored. He said in Udhampur and Reasi districts 90% power had been restored while in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch and Rajouri it was 100 per cent. In Jammu STD-I and STD-II areas, it was 96 to 97% restoration by this evening. He said the PDD staff on war footing managed to restore over all 96% of the power supply in all the 10 districts of the region.
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